The Yale women's gymnastics team exemplifies everything that Yale sports should be. Throughout the past 20 years, they dominated the rest of the Ivy League. In the last two decades the Elis have nabbed 11 Ivy titles and nine second place finishes. On Sat., Mar. 9, the current Eli squad of gymnasts showed that they, too, were up to the high standards of the Yale Gymnastics program by winning another Ivy League title, the school's twelfth overall and the team's third in a row.
For a team that is so consistent and so dominant, one would think that winning is old hat-that it comes easily. Well, think again. This year the Elis had to scrape and crawl their way through a season filled with adversity. The bad news started when, within the first week of practice, four gymnasts quit the team.
Then, during the very heart of the season, Anna Mitescu, SM '96, the team's top performer, tore a ligament in her elbow. Finally, Sara Van, ES '99, who would have been a key part of the Elis plans, broke her hand walking home from work the night before the Ivy championships.
Although Mitescu was able to make an amazing come back and return to 80 percent of her former self, the retirements and key injuries left the Elis short handed entering the most important meet of the year. In gymnastics, a team enters six individuals, with the top five point totals counting towards the final score. In many events at the Ivy competition, the Elis did not have the luxury of a sixth competitor. This could have been an incredible disadvantage because it meant that if one person screwed up, the team's championship chances would have been gone.
Despite these seemingly impossible odds, the shorthanded Elis pulled together in the clutch and brought home the Ivy crown. Team captain Heather Simpson, TD '96, indicated that the the thrill of victroy was even greater this year because of the adversity. She said, "It was a sweet victory. It seems this year has been one thing after another. But at Ivies we really came together as a team and did well."
Although every Bulldog on the roster performed admirably, the efforts of three Elis deserve to be mentioned specifically. Entered in her first Ivy competition, and facing some heavy pressure, freshman Stacey Johnson, TC '99, showed that she has the potential to be a true star by placing second in the all-around. Mitescu, performing with her injured elbow, basically took third in the all-around with one hand tied around her back. And Simpson earned the Elis key places: third in the floor exercise, first in the vault, and first on the bar.
The contest showed as much about the Elis' heart and guts as it did about their talent. Coach Barbara Toron was amazed at the performance put on by her team at the big show. She said, "They won because of their determination and desire. They were very serious, very determined, and very focused."
The result was an unbelievable victory. The Elis not only proved themselves to best team in the tournament, they showed that they were true champions. Team member Michelle McCoy, ES '97, said, "We were really excited. We wanted to go into Ivies and not just win, but hit the routines. And we did. We won it with great routines...it was a great victory."
The Elis blend of youth and gritty experience lifted them to championship heights this season, and will surely inspire future squads.
And so, the tradition continues...
Copyright 1996, The Yale Herald, Inc. All rights reserved.
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